Calibrachoa plant named ‘Suncalsifobu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Suncalsifobu’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; large light purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Suncalsifobu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Suncalsifobu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to develop new compact, mounding andfreely-branching Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive and unique flowercoloration.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2004 of aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number9BS79, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 9LB21, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan sinceOctober, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Suncalsifobu’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Suncalsifobu’ as a new and distinct cultivarof Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Large light purple-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not        as upright as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as outwardly spreading        as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of‘Sunbel-labu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,285. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newCalibrachoa and ‘Sunbel-labu’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more upright than and not        as outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Sunbel-labu’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants        of ‘Sunbel-labu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Suncalsifobu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘Suncalsifobu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, undercommercial practice during the late spring in an outdoor nursery. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 13° C. Plants had been growing for four and fivemonths when the description and photographs, respectively, were taken.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Suncalsifobu’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 9BS79, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 9LB21, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at            15° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant            habit. Freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching is not required, but will            enhance lateral branch development. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 18.2 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 31.6 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 21.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.9 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 8 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outward.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 2.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 144A; venation, close to 145A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C; venation,            close to 145A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.7 mm. Diameter: About 1.4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from upper leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with            usually about 43 open flowers per plant at one time. Flowers            face upright or outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            initiate and develop flowers about three weeks after            planting. Long flowering period; flowering commences            naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously            throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.9 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 8.7 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Tube diameter.—About 1.7 mm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2 cm.            Diameter: About 4.9 mm. Color: Close to 85A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.4 cm. Petal width: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape:            Spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded to truncate; blunt. Petal            margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening and            fully open, upper surface: Close to 76A; venation, close to            77A. Petal, when opening and fully open, lower surface:            Close to 77D; midveins, close to 197B. Throat: Close to 7A;            venation, close to 152D. Tube: Close to 77D; venation, close            to 197B.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 4.8 mm to            9.4 mm. Sepal width: About 3.9 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate.            Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, immature and            mature, upper surface: Close to 144B. Color, immature and            mature, lower surface: Close to 144B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.            Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per            flower. Stamen length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Anther shape:            Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 1.7 mm. Anther            color: Close to 3C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 8.4 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma            shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to            145A. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Calibrachoa.

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Suncalsifobu’ asillustrated and described.